It was Mitchell who reached out to me a few months ago, reminding me that in 2013 he had reviewed an art show I had curated at the Arts Fund of Santa Barbara. He had a book he had published and it was then I realized this was the man who ruled many a ’90s teens’ life with the show he created, Clarissa Explains It All on Nickelodeon.

Cate Imperio and Sam Fairley have a NSFW weekly video series called “Unlicensed Professionals” in which they deliver a barrage of humor, criticism, pet peeves, and observation, all dressed in bra and panties and more (and sometimes less). A year in and they’ve got their weekly podcast down to a science, tackling
sex, sexuality, hyena mating, drawing with your butt, and other freaky topics like the Golden Globes.

Their persistence has paid off and they’re now frequent guests on Dr. Susan Block’s Internet TV show, where they are up for damn near anything, but always with sarcastic humor and wit. They DGAF, as the kids say.

I split this podcast into two parts, the first with Cate and the second with Sam (next week). It was an extra long discussion, and it was a nice dividing line, so be sure to check in next week. As you might guess the conversation is heavily explicit and contains many swears. Put in those earbuds!!

Topics discussed include:
Their first podcast
The problem with dressing as a guy
How the two met
The weirdest reactions to their act
Making fun of gluten free trends
Cate growing up in Long Island
How she maneuvered Catholic School
Cate’s family history and long convoluted drug history
Her very brief time in New Orleans
Pot smoking in NYC compared to Santa Barbara
How Cate finally quit drugs
Her “Bjork Swan” phase